PressTV/ US repeats anti-Iran rhetoric amid nuclear talks

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association)- The United States has once again resorted to anti-Iran rhetoric to curry favor with Israel amid the ongoing nuclear negotiations with Tehran.

Just as nuclear talks between top nuclear negotiators of Iran, the US and EU was underway in the Omani capital, Muscat, US Vice President Joe Biden elaborated on Washington’s stance on Iran’s nuclear energy program while addressing the Jewish Federations of North America’s 2014 General Assembly in the state of Maryland on Monday.

“I’ve heard so much malarkey about our position on Iran. Let me say it to you clearly in Bidenesque way: We will not let Iran acquire a nuclear weapon. Period. Period. Period,” Biden said.

On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the West against striking a deal with Iran on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear energy program, claiming that a hasty nuclear agreement would allow Tehran “to rush to the bomb.”

After Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, US Secretary of State John Kerry and EU negotiator, Catherine Ashton, wrapped up their trilateral nuclear talks in Muscat on Monday, senior Iranian nuclear negotiator Abbas Araqchi told Press TV that the talks were “very useful”, but noted that a lot of work remains to be done and more expert-level and bilateral meetings were required.

Araqchi added that the process of striking a comprehensive deal on Iran’s nuclear energy program needs “lots of goodwill by all parties and of course readiness to make difficult decisions.”

He further described the issues of uranium enrichment and the sanctions as key questions in the talks.

The US State Department spokeswoman, meanwhile, said the talks were “tough, direct and serious.” Jen Psaki told reporters in Washington that the US remained focused on making progress, and there’s still time to do so.

The negotiations were aimed at facilitating a final deal over Iran’s nuclear energy program before the November 24 deadline.

The extent of Iran’s uranium enrichment as well as a timetable for the removal of US and EU sanctions were high on the agenda of the Oman negotiations.

Representatives of Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – Russia, China, France, Britain and the US — plus Germany will hold further talks at deputy level on Tuesday..